Category: Past Events

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Peace Walk 2024

Peace walkers follow a grassy path at dusk, with the moon rising on the horizon. The person in the foreground wears a backpack with a red peace symbol. Wildflowers line the trail, and the sky glows with soft shades of purple and pink.

 

 

Walking Together for Peace

September 8, 2024 – September 21, 2024
Pugwash to Halifax

“We have to learn to think in a new way. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps; the question we have to ask ourselves is: what steps can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disastrous to all parties?”

— Russell Einstein Manifesto, 1955

Our Journey

From September 8th to 21st, 2024, communities across Nova Scotia came together for the Walking Together for Peace initiative — a 200-kilometer journey from Pugwash to Halifax. This walk supported the abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide, called on Canada to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and promoted the vision to Decolonize, Decarbonize, Demilitarize.

Our Roots in History

The peace walk drew inspiration from the Pugwash Conference of 1957, where scientists, inspired by the Russell–Einstein Manifesto, gathered to oppose nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War. This year’s walk reawakened the Pugwash story, renewing Canada’s legacy in international disarmament and the urgent need for commitment today.

Walking Through Mi’kma’ki

Sharing local Mi’kmaq history and African Nova Scotian experiences with participants was essential. Peace means understanding decolonization, reconciliation, and reparations, and supporting innovative possibilities such as land trusts in African Nova Scotian communities.

The People Who Walked

From beginning to end we were accompanied, smudged, prayed for, and guided by grassroots Mi’kmaq Water Protectors — Doreen Bernard, Marian Nickolas, Amy Maloney, and Darleen Gilbert. A diverse community of youth, peace advocates, ecological activists, and Gandhian Peace Walkers from India joined the full route. Local residents also walked beside them, creating a living network of solidarity.

Education

High school visits, organized by Lia Holla, Executive Director of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, brought nuclear disarmament discussions to Pugwash HS and Auburn Drive HS. Stories were shared by Peace Walkers from India, British Columbia, and Syria. Mi’kmaq water grandmother Doreen Bernard led a water ceremony.

Elementary visits by Raging Grannie and peace walker Kathrin Winkler reached Wallace Elementary, Enfield Elementary, and Le Marchand in Halifax, with presentations including Buddhist monks, an Indigenous educator, and Gandhian walkers. Over 100 letters from students to the Prime Minister were later presented to Senator Marilou MacPhedran.

Community Connections

Community members generously hosted dinners, including the Maritime Sikh Society, Vedanta Ashram Society, Maggie’s Place in Truro, Brahma Kumari friends in Carroll’s Corners, and Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dartmouth. The Ummah Mosque in Halifax welcomed the walkers on the last day.

The DownTheMarsh Land Trust blessing was a highlight, celebrating justice and peace through historic community rebuilding for African Nova Scotians.

Sharing Stories of Activism

  • Rajagopal P.V. and Dr. Jill Carr-Harris shared peace work in India, enabling Zoom conversations with Peace Walkers there.
  • Dr. Joy Masura shared her family’s experience as Japanese Canadians during WWII.
  • Ann Verrall’s film with Elder Phyllis Googoo, “Phyllis and the Lady Bugs,” was screened during the Shubenacadie visit.

Gratitude

We thank the individuals, churches, community centres, and groups who supported this journey, including:

  • Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
  • WILPF Canada
  • Jai Jagat International
  • Science for Peace
  • Canadian Pugwash Group
  • International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada
  • ICAN
  • Peace Quest
  • Reverse The Trend
  • Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace

Voices from the Walk

Kathrin Winkler: “You can’t aspire to global peace without local justice and peace. In Nova Scotia, that means connecting to Mi’kmaw history and African Nova Scotian struggles.”

Lia Holla: “Really cool about this walk is that it’s co-led by Mi’kmaq grassroots grandmothers… The movement for nuclear disarmament is led primarily by Indigenous leaders.”

 

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NO NEW FIGHTER JETS!

On April 10 and 11, 2021, Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace and the Halifax Raging Grannies called on the Canadian government to cancel the proposed purchase of 88 new fighter jets.

Fighter Jets – Fast Facts

  • In July 2019: Canadian government launched a $19 billion competition for 88 new fighter jets
  • A fighter jet is flown by one pilot and carries many bombs or missiles
  • Canadian fighter jets have illegally bombed Serbia in 1999 and have bombed Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria in the past decade that have killed innocent people and destroyed civilian infrastructure
  • Former Deputy Minister of Defense Charles Nixon stated Canada does not need fighter jets as Canada does not face any credible threat and they are not necessary to protect our populace or sovereignty.
  • Fighter jets have severe environmental consequences
  • The excessive carbon emissions will cause carbon lock-in, preventing Canada from decarbonizing and meeting the Paris Agreement targets to prevent catastrophic climate change
  • We need to be investing in a Green New Deal, not new weapons that drive climate change
  • Fighter jets and COVID-19
    • Currently, 14.9 million Canadians are relying on financial assistance
    • Public funds should support a just recovery from the pandemic and strengthen the social safety net, not combat aircraft

    http://nsvow.org/

    https://nofighterjets.ca/

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Engaging the Public in the Global Day of Action on Military Spending

It was a cold and windy April day, when NSVOW members and supporters engaged the public in an activity about public spending where people passing by in front of Halifax Central Library put four quarters (supplied by NSVOW) into jars labeled:

  • ARTS & CULTURE
  • ENVIRONMENT
  • HEALTH & EDUCATION
  • MILITARY
  • PEACE
  • WOMEN & CHILDREN

It was evident that people took the exercise very seriously as they contemplated how to distribute their quarters.

They were then invited to fill out a poster “If I had 1.75 trillion dollars (the approximate amount of world-wide annual military spending) I would #movemilitarythemoney to _____.”

Results:

  • Health and Education:  73
  • Environment: 64
  • Environment:  64
  • Women and Children:  52
  • Arts and Culture:  36
  • Peace:  36
  • Military:  2

One area that several people mentioned that was not covered by our jars was affordability of living (housing and food). We will take that into account when we design next year’s action for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending.

For more information check out https://demilitarize.org

GDAMS 2019

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Local to Global: Building Bridges for Peace

Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace Invites you to a free day of interactive workshops

Saturday, January 21st, 9:30-5:00 pm
Women’s Council House
989 Young AvenueHalifax NS

Vegan Lunch Provided –
Please RSVP for Lunch/ Snack purposes to: peace@nsvow.org

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9:30 Doors Open for Coffee/Tea and Snacks

10:00 Opening Circle

10:15 Yvonne Atwell: Empowering Women through Non-Violent  Communication – Restorative approaches to building Relationships. This workshop will focus on using Circle process and other tools to develop and maintain restorative conversations.

11:30 – 12:15 – Connect to Women’s March on Washington – Halifax and enjoy Lunch provided by Food Not Bombs and Tarek’s

Note: anyone going to the March who would like to carry a Nova Scotia Voice of Women banner, pleases reply to peace@nsvow.org

12:15 Afternoon Opening Circle

12:30 Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Dr. Nancy Covington and Sarah Morgan: Nuclear Basics and Nuclear Hazards:  Historic Local and Global Successes and Current Actions – Sarah Morgan will engage the audience in an interactive exercise on the importance of nuclear issues. Dr. Nancy Covington will present on Nuclear Basics and your Health. Linda Christiansen-Ruffman will discuss her history with nuclear  issues over time including some feminist successes. Presenters will engage with participants in a discussion around future challenges and actions.

2:00 – 2:30 Refreshment Break

2:30 Kate Everson with Dawn Penney & Candace Tattrie, PeacmakeHers

Goal-Setting Activity – We will look at our top priorities, how we are  spending most of our time, what our ideal life would look like and seeing how we can bring these aspects into alignment.  From there, we will create new goals for ourselves to help us  get to where we want to be in 5, 10 or even next year.
We are creating a space for you to brainstorm, share and expand on your ideas for a project you may have been thinking about your whole life, the past 6 months or even something you came up with during the goal setting activity. We are here to listen to your ideas and support you in any way  you need or want us to.

3:30 – 3:45 Stretch Break

3:45 – 4:40 Project Planning – Clarify your Goal & Action Plan

4:45 – Closing Circle

PLEASE COME AND JOIN IN THIS EXCITING DAY!!!